Economic sanctions may deal fatal blow to Russia’s already-weak domestic opposition

Abstract

The West has responded to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by imposing harsh economic sanctions . Most consequentially, key Russian banks have been cut out of the SWIFT payments messaging system , making financial transactions much more difficult. The United States, European Union andothers also moved to freeze Russian Central Bank reserves . And U.S. President Joe Biden is placing a total ban on Russian oil imports. These sanctions are aimed at generating opposition from both Russian President Vladimir Putin’sinner circle and everyday Russians. As a scholar who studies regime change , I believe the risk is thatthey will actually drive the Kremlin’s weak opposition further into obscurity.